Provost was born Consuela Marie Moore on September 29, 1939. Raised in a
Catholic family, she was the sister of well-known Louisiana musician
Deacon John Moore. Kein largely created the field of Creole Studies through her early publications and presentations. A protégé of
Robert Hayden, her poetry is housed in the
National Archives, Library of Congress. In 1981 Provost published
Gombo People, a volume of poetry representing the first contribution to American letters of original literature in the Louisiana Creole language. Provost has been named "
Chercheur Associe" of the
Sorbonne in
Paris, France for her work in Creole culture; and distinguished "
Professeur Émérite" of The
University of Michigan. She was also the recipient of a
Hopwood Award. Her later works included
Delta Dancer,
Serenade Creole,
Creole Journal,
Creole: The History and Legacy of Louisiana‘s Free People of Color,
An American South,
Creole Ballads,
Zydeco,
Maw-Maw’s Creole Lullaby and Other Songs for Children,
Creole Classique,
Love is Forever: Songs of Romantic New Orleans,
Gombo People and
Gardenias y Rosas: Canciones Romanticas (a musical companion to
Gumbo People). Provost resided in
Natchitoches, Louisiana later in life and died in October 2022. ==References==